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kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
The Emersons do have their fun. A sensationalistic authoress thrusts a priceless Egyptian artifact onto Emerson begging him to remove the curse and destroy the black afrit who killed her wealthy husband and now dogging her path. The whole of Luxor is holding its collective breath waiting for one of Emerson's [in[famous exorcisms as disappearances and beatings occur around them.
Fortunately, David has arrived to protect Ramses' back as the entire family goes on the hunt for the true culprits and all that is missing. Sethos has shown up as well...I do love that man...he has such a wicked sense of humor! I'm beginning to think Sethos finds his family as challenging as his earlier career(s) and wouldn't miss out on their adventures for worlds.
And there is more than one villain after more than one treasure with terrible consequences...lots of setting up here for the future.
Fortunately, David has arrived to protect Ramses' back as the entire family goes on the hunt for the true culprits and all that is missing. Sethos has shown up as well...I do love that man...he has such a wicked sense of humor! I'm beginning to think Sethos finds his family as challenging as his earlier career(s) and wouldn't miss out on their adventures for worlds.
And there is more than one villain after more than one treasure with terrible consequences...lots of setting up here for the future.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this one. The story was engaging and kept me guessing, the Egyptology was fascinating, and the characters were their likeable selves.
showell's review against another edition
3.0
In general I enjoyed the Amelia Peabody mystery series very much (although I've just now gotten around to logging that I've read them on Goodreads), in part because I read the books in order so could watch Elizabeth Peters develop as a writer. For whatever reason, I missed this one when reading the series through a few years ago. Oops.
Have made up for it now. Didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. It seemed predictable. Maybe I really did read it years ago and just didn't remember most of it, or maybe it's that the relationship between Amelia and her husband reminds me so much of the relationship between Alexia Tarabotti and Lord Conall Maccon in Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series that the storyline as a whole doesn't feel as fresh.
Have made up for it now. Didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. It seemed predictable. Maybe I really did read it years ago and just didn't remember most of it, or maybe it's that the relationship between Amelia and her husband reminds me so much of the relationship between Alexia Tarabotti and Lord Conall Maccon in Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series that the storyline as a whole doesn't feel as fresh.
books4biana's review against another edition
Once upon a time, British people lived everywhere. The crown was the ruling power in many far off and exotic locations. This is one of those times...
As I read about this famed archeologist and renowned sleuth, and her family, and I think about occupation. Is there a real reason that she wields such power in a country that isn't hers? Yeah, she's British.
The mystery was lame, at times didn't make sense, and eventually ended right where I thought in the beginning. I am sorry I picked it up, because I think it could have been a good read, if only I wasn't away of the oppression that it represents.
As I read about this famed archeologist and renowned sleuth, and her family, and I think about occupation. Is there a real reason that she wields such power in a country that isn't hers? Yeah, she's British.
The mystery was lame, at times didn't make sense, and eventually ended right where I thought in the beginning. I am sorry I picked it up, because I think it could have been a good read, if only I wasn't away of the oppression that it represents.
seshat59's review against another edition
3.0
The Serpent in the Crown is the penultimate book in the Amelia Peabody Emerson series. Amelia is approximately 70 years old, and like the series, she’s starting to feel her age (but neither would ever admit it). It is January of 1922, and Egyptologists professional and dilettante alike should be able to tell you the significance of this year archaeologically-speaking. This book in the series is really there to set us up for the last book. Minor and rather obvious spoilers of an Egyptological nature to come.
A famous authoress shows up at the Emersons’ Luxor compound with a priceless gold statuette, the likes of which has never been seen in Egyptology. Solid gold, it makes all who see and hear about it salivate, but Mrs. Petherick claims it is cursed, and that it is responsible for a black-clad apparition manifesting and killing her late husband, and conveniently, it has pursued her to Egypt. She gives the statue to the Emersons for safe keeping and their expertise. Emerson is frenzied to find the statue’s provenance, and though he’s banned from digging in the Valley of the Kings, he finagles a deal with Carter/Carnarvon to re-excavate KV55. The statuette is of the Amarna style, and it’s easy to deduce (as the reader) that its identity is Tutankhamen, but of course, Egyptologists in 1922 (prior to November) couldn’t have known that as they all believed the Valley was spent and didn’t have any more royal tombs left to find. Of course by the end of the novel, the Emersons have determined the statue’s identity and are a leg up on Carter, knowing for sure that the tomb is out there... but they have no idea that it’s undisturbed. That’s for the next novel. Elizabeth Peters has always said she wanted to conclude with the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb.
Otherwise, the mystery is rather blah, and the secondary characters aren’t as vibrant as they once were. Nefret and David are kind of just there. (I was especially critical about how frequently Nefret doesn’t even appear in Manuscript H... For instance, she’s said to be present in the room and then doesn’t have any dialogue. WTH, Ramses/MPM? That’s not the Nefret we know...But it does make for more convenient writing, and MPM does love her Amelia, Ramses, and Sethos time.) Also, I wish Katherine was given more time in this. As the old “spiritualist,” she should have been more amused by this particular Emersonian adventure, but she’s rather flattened and diminished as a character over the years. Amelia and Emerson are as indomitable as always, and we only learn from Ramses that Amelia’s old leg injury appears as a limp sporadically, and one can infer from the days Amelia does not venture out to the dig that she’s slowing down. Not Emerson though. Nothing slows him down, ha.
Also, what happened with Ramses and Nefret’s daughter Charlotte? Last book, she was Charla; this book she’s Carla...
There are as usual some very entertaining scenes. My favorite was when Sethos is almost caught in the act by the man he’s masquerading as, and Amelia delivering a lecture behind a desk to her family sitting in rows is just priceless. And poor Emerson — his exorcism finally failed, ha.
But as usual, any Emerson time is entertaining, and that final climax was indeed fraught! But despite our foreshadowing, it was easy to deduce that all would be okay.
A famous authoress shows up at the Emersons’ Luxor compound with a priceless gold statuette, the likes of which has never been seen in Egyptology. Solid gold, it makes all who see and hear about it salivate, but Mrs. Petherick claims it is cursed, and that it is responsible for a black-clad apparition manifesting and killing her late husband, and conveniently, it has pursued her to Egypt. She gives the statue to the Emersons for safe keeping and their expertise. Emerson is frenzied to find the statue’s provenance, and though he’s banned from digging in the Valley of the Kings, he finagles a deal with Carter/Carnarvon to re-excavate KV55. The statuette is of the Amarna style, and it’s easy to deduce (as the reader) that its identity is Tutankhamen, but of course, Egyptologists in 1922 (prior to November) couldn’t have known that as they all believed the Valley was spent and didn’t have any more royal tombs left to find. Of course by the end of the novel, the Emersons have determined the statue’s identity and are a leg up on Carter, knowing for sure that the tomb is out there... but they have no idea that it’s undisturbed. That’s for the next novel. Elizabeth Peters has always said she wanted to conclude with the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb.
Otherwise, the mystery is rather blah, and the secondary characters aren’t as vibrant as they once were. Nefret and David are kind of just there. (I was especially critical about how frequently Nefret doesn’t even appear in Manuscript H... For instance, she’s said to be present in the room and then doesn’t have any dialogue. WTH, Ramses/MPM? That’s not the Nefret we know...But it does make for more convenient writing, and MPM does love her Amelia, Ramses, and Sethos time.) Also, I wish Katherine was given more time in this. As the old “spiritualist,” she should have been more amused by this particular Emersonian adventure, but she’s rather flattened and diminished as a character over the years. Amelia and Emerson are as indomitable as always, and we only learn from Ramses that Amelia’s old leg injury appears as a limp sporadically, and one can infer from the days Amelia does not venture out to the dig that she’s slowing down. Not Emerson though. Nothing slows him down, ha.
Also, what happened with Ramses and Nefret’s daughter Charlotte? Last book, she was Charla; this book she’s Carla...
There are as usual some very entertaining scenes. My favorite was when Sethos is almost caught in the act by the man he’s masquerading as, and Amelia delivering a lecture behind a desk to her family sitting in rows is just priceless. And poor Emerson — his exorcism finally failed, ha.
But as usual, any Emerson time is entertaining, and that final climax was indeed fraught! But despite our foreshadowing, it was easy to deduce that all would be okay.
1outside's review against another edition
5.0
Perhaps less dramatic than some of the previous ones, well except for the very last part, that is!
Did not mind that this book was less dramatic and convoluted, btw. Not at all. Relaxing, hanging out with friends. (Except for the last part.)
Sad that it's ending, only one more to go.
I only read the books as they were released, and can't say at present I'm tempted to read the fill-in books. Perhaps at some later point.
Did not mind that this book was less dramatic and convoluted, btw. Not at all. Relaxing, hanging out with friends. (Except for the last part.)
Sad that it's ending, only one more to go.
I only read the books as they were released, and can't say at present I'm tempted to read the fill-in books. Perhaps at some later point.
ewil6681's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
issyjanejane's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0